Humphrey: No time to slack around the national team

Club Sando midfielder Akeem Humphrey will be hoping he’s done enough over the past two weeks to make the final cut when Dennis Lawrence announces the squad that will travel to Wales for the international friendly on Friday.

Humphrey, a former national under 20 player has been part of the provisional training squad and he’s been taking it all in stride getting in shape for the upcoming local domestic season with an eye on selection for Wales match and the Concacaf Gold Cup in June.

“It’s been intense. The gaffer has put out a plan for us and from my point of view the guys have been doing well and putting in the work. Fitness wise we are coming up to par and with eight more days or so left before we leave. I think everyone is looking forward to what’s ahead and all up to the task,” Humphrey told TTFA Media.

“The Wales match is a really important and huge match for us. It would be a honour to be in the squad for such a match especially as a younger player. From here I’ll just be trying my best because the aim is to also make it on the squad for the Gold Cup so hopefully I can just doing my best and take it all the way,” he said.

Humphrey, 23, complimented the work of the Senior Team staff, adding that it was absolutely necessary for the home-based players to maintain high levels when they are on and off national duty.

“The international level is different from club level so obviously we must be at that height in terms of intensity. It’s been a hard but encouraging process. Nothing comes easy. For clubs in the Caribbean, it’s no where near the standard of the national team in terms of training so obviously you have to put in more by yourself but at the end of the day we are here to work.

“The younger players are willing to learn. As young player myself, we are wiling to communicate and work for each other. It’s been phenomenal working under the current coaches. The work has been very good from every member of the staff. I just try my best as a young player to take on board what the coaches are teaching us and try to progress as an individual,” Humphrey said.

“It is very important to keep yourself at that level required for international football. There is no time to slack and lack when you are in training with the national team. You always have to put in the extra work. I always try to take back to the club whatever I learn at the national team and try to help as much payers as I can,” he added.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association was formed on July 23rd, 1908. Expatriate workers who taught the game to locals played the game in the oilfields.

A certain player by the name of Dwight Yorke captained this country to its first ever FIFA World Cup, the 1991 FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Portugal. And in 2006 he also captained the Senior Men's Team to the 2006 World Cup in Germany